In a first-round playoff victory, the Hardaway boys soccer team failed to be the aggressors early on and, as a result, had to battle for a come-from-behind 4-3 victory.

That won't be an option when it faces Warner Robins in the Class AAAAA second round on Tuesday (6:30 p.m. at Kinnett Stadium).

"We have to be the aggressors," coach Rick Iden said. "That's the key for us. If we can do that, then we stand a pretty good chance. If we don't, then it could be a bad day."

Warner Robins (11-5) will be no walk in the park, despite its No. 3 seed. It defeated Starr's Mill 4-2 in the first round, upsetting a program that had played in back-to-back state semifinals.

Iden said that another slow start would not bode well for the Hawks (13-2).

"That showed we can't look ahead," he said. "Someone like Warner Robins is a team you can't look past. They're explosive. They're a quality program. They get after you. We're going to have to be on our game."

As with the rest of the season, that means the game plan is to attack.

"If we lay back and just try to play ball, we give up the advantage," he said. "We have to take away what the other team does well. When we've done that, it's worked well for us."

Joining Hardaway in the second round of the boys GHSA playoffs will be Brookstone, which benefitted from a first-round bye in the Class A playoffs.

The Cougars (11-2-2) have allowed more than two goals just once this season when they lost 4-1 to Hardaway. Landmark (7-7), meanwhile, suffered a five-game losing streak during the middle of the season before righting the ship in its final three games.

A win would ensure Brookstone a home game in the state quarterfinals against Savannah Christian or Athens Christian, regardless of who wins that game.